Melvin Jackson Livings, Jr., known to his friends and family as “Uncle Jack”, passed away early Saturday morning, November 18, 2017. Those who were close to Jack were aware of his avid thirst for knowledge and love for reading. In many ways, he was a self-taught man.

He was born on February 27, 1929 in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Upon graduation, he initially attended Howard College in San Angelo, Texas and later transferred to the University of Alabama where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science. He served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict where he spent the majority of his four years of service in the Washington, D.C. area as a Crypto analyst. He was very proud of his military service and being a veteran. Upon being honorably discharged, he went to work for the Chemstrand Corporation in Pensacola, Florida as a supervisor in the Shipping Department. After a short stint with Chemstrand, he went to work as a Florida State Probation and Parole Officer where he eventually retired. After retirement, Jack continued to work as a local Santa Rosa County business man and residential real estate/land developer as one of the managing partners of the Hammersmith Corporation, LLC.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Jackson Livings, Sr. and Clender Patty (Snellgrove) Livings; his wife Grace Katherine (Lankford) Livings; and his brother William Thomas Livings. He is survived by his brother, James Harold Livings; sister-in-law Ina Florine (Fordham) Livings; sister-in-law Sylvia Diane (Martin) Livings; nephew James Michael Livings; niece Lynda Lee (Livings) Cochran; niece Jennifer Diane (Livings) Clark; nephew William Thomas Livings Jr.; and niece, Debbie Battaline.

There will be a viewing and visitation set for Monday, November 27, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Lewis Funeral Home in Pace, Florida and a graveside burial service on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Green Hills Funeral Home and Cemetery in Troy, Alabama.

Additionally, the family wishes to thank the staffs of Sacred Heart Hospital, West Florida Hospital, Life Care Center and The Waterford at Carpenter’s Creek for the love and care given to our loved one during his time of illness.

Jack will be forever in our hearts.